Romania bans sale of new VW cars with rigged engines

The transportation minister says Romanian authorities have put a temporary ban on registering new Volkswagen cars outfitted with diesel engines that are able to cheat on emissions tests.AP | October 02, 2015, 08:53 IST

BUCHAREST: The transportation minister says Romanian authorities have put a temporary ban on registering new Volkswagen cars outfitted with diesel engines that are able to cheat on emissions tests.

Transportation Minister Iulian Matache said Thursday the Romanian Automobile Register, which conducts tests on vehicles and declares them roadworthy, would no longer register new and unsold Volkswagen cars with the affected engines. The ban could affect 300 Volkswagen automobiles that dealers have in stock.

Matache said there are some 105,000 Volkswagen, Audi, Seats and Skodas in circulation that could have to be recalled due to the scandal. Of those, 56,000 were purchased new and the rest were bought second-hand, he said.